Bolide

Bolide is a term related to meteors and meteorites. There is no consensus on the definition of a bolide, so there are specific definitions used by several groups and fields.

One definition describes a bolide as a fireball reaching an apparent magnitude of −14 or brighter.^[1] Another definition describes a bolide as any generic large crater-forming impacting body whose composition (for example, whether it is a rocky or metallic asteroid, or an icy comet) is unknown.^[2]

A very bright meteor of an apparent magnitude of −14 or brighter (known as a bolide in astronomy)

The word bolide comes from Greek βολίς bolis, which means missile.^[3]

Astronomy

The IAU has no official definition of bolide, and generally considers the term synonymous with "fireball". However, the term generally applies to fireballs reaching an apparent magnitude −14 or brighter.^[1] Astronomers tend to use bolide to identify an exceptionally bright fireball, particularly one that explodes (sometimes called a detonating fireball). It may also be used to mean a fireball that is audible.

Geology

Geologists use the term bolide more often than astronomers do;^{[citation needed]} in geology it indicates a very large impactor. For example, the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center of the USGS uses bolide as a generic term that describes any large crater-forming impacting body of which its composition (for example, whether it is a rocky or metallic asteroid, or an icy comet) is unknown.^[2]

Superbolide

If the apparent magnitude of a bolide reaches −17 or brighter, it is known as a superbolide.^[1][4] Recent examples of a superbolide are the Sutter's Mill meteorite and the Chelyabinsk meteor.

References

See also

• Tollmann's hypothetical bolide
• Chelyabinsk meteor

External links

• historic record of bolides that have been witnessed entering the Earth’s atmosphere around the world from 861 through 2012 (B612 Foundation)

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